William Hampton Jenkins Jr. passed away quietly in the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.
Hampton was born in Moultrie, Georgia, on Dec. 26, 1945, to Mary Francine and William Hampton Jenkins Sr. He would often tell the story of how he rode a mule to the movie theater because that was his only mode of transportation. He shared stories of cropping tobacco, throwing watermelons and working in the fields. In his spare time you could find him wetting a cork or hunting for deer, squirrel and birds.
As a teenager he participated in track and field sports and football for the Packers. Soon after graduating from Moultrie High School in 1963, Hampton attended Moultrie Tech where he studied diesel mechanics before going to work at Swift & Company. From 1965 to 1969 he served in the United States Air Force as a rotary engine mechanic and earned the rank of staff sergeant. While stationed in Utah, Hampton met and married Karen in 1967. After his enlistment was up, they moved back to Moultrie to work with his family. A few years later he obtained his A&P License from Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and returned as the fixed base operator for the Moultrie Airport.
In the late ‘70s he started his own business. What started off with installing solar hot water systems for local homes and dairies led to a contract for installing a system on 250 units of base housing at the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. Over the next 30 years Hampton would continue to work on all types of construction projects at Kings Bay and in the surrounding area. A few of the most notable projects include the Salvation Army Store, the Howard Gilman waterfront park, the Tilden Norris Marsh Walk and Pavilion and the Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center in St. Marys. While Hampton never participated in Scouting as a kid, he valued its merits and wanted his sons to be involved. He served as a Cubmaster, assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster for several local packs and troops while his sons and grandsons were in Scouting. He was proud that his four sons and grandson had followed in the footsteps of his father, in earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for his distinguished service to Boy Scouts of America.
He also received the Saint George Emblem for outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youths through Scouting. An active member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church for the last 40 years, Hampton was a lector, taught religious education classes and chaperoned the high school youth group on trips. He was a founding member and the first Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 11058. Hampton was also a 4 th Degree Knight for the Ave Maria Assembly. You could often see him frying fish at the church on Friday nights during Lent.
As a local business owner he supported the vocational and technical programs at Camden County High School. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for the CCHS Chapter of SkillsUSA. He mentored students and judged local trades’ competitions for many years and often provided employment opportunities for students to gain work experience. Generous and always ready with a helping hand, he taught his family the importance of God, family, community, service and fellowship.
He is survived by his wife, Karen, of 54 years and their children, Tom (Tricia), Patrick (Stephanie), Salina Hanner (Joel), Monica Hooks (Steven), Nicholas (fiancé, Crystal), Katrina Hereford (Rob) and Matthew (Christine); grandchildren, Frank Joseph (Laura), Evan, Miranda (Omar), Sofi, Will, Amanda, Cora, Julia, Luke, Graham and Charlie; sisters: Colleen Shiver (Carl), Leila Bennett (Glynn) and Lynn Hampton (Jerry); sister-in-law, Pat Calanni; brothers-in-law, John Tibor (Loretta) and Jerry Tibor (Jane); as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Hampton was preceded in death by his mother and father; brother, Wesley; his father and mother-in-law, Tom and Minnie Tibor; brothers-in-law, Joseph Calanni, James Tibor, Donald Stricklan; and sister-in-law, Janet Stricklan.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Dec. 11, 2021, at Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Marys.
Allison Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.